Workman&#39;s time-recorder.



No. 632,907. Patented Sept. 12, I899.

E.. L. THURSTON.

WORKMANS TIME RECORDER.

(Application filed June 9, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet I,

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(Application filed. June 9, 1899.)

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WORKMANS TIME RECORDER.

' (Application filed June 9, 1899.) {No Modal.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A" Den M: nonms PETERS cu, vuoTcpuTnou WASHINGTON, u c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ED\VIN L. THURSTON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WORKMANS TIME-RECORDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,907, dated September 12, 1899.

Application filed June 9, 1899. Serial No. 719,912. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

.lie it known that I, EDWIN L. THURSTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful,

it is embodied is adapted for use with keys of the simplest, cheapest, and most durable construction. The term key is here used in a colloquial sense, because the so-called keys which are adapted for use in said machine are not keys in the sense in which that term is commonly used in this vart. They perform no function in the actuation of the recording mechanism or of the mechanisms for feeding either the inking-ribbon or recording-tape. They are merely metal rods each having on one side near its end a cameo type, which by the mere insert-ion of the socalled key into the machine is brought into alinement with the time-wheels, whereby the iimpression-hammer when actuated by other means will cause said type to be printed on the tape together with the type on the recording-wheels.

Another merit of the machine is that in and of itself it is somewhat cheaper than the other machines of similar character which are now on the market. Notwithstanding this fact its records are equally accurate and may be made by the different workmen as rapidly as with other machines.

The invention consists in the combination, in a machine of this character, of a fixed tubular key-holder which is shorter than the key and has a slot or its equivalent with a hub which is rotatably mounted upon said key-holder and has upon its outer end a wing or wings wherewith it may be turned and upon its inner end mechanism for actuating, either directly or indirectly, the impressionhammer and the mechanisms for advancing the recording-tape and the inking-ribbon.

It also consists in the more specific combinations of parts shown and described, and pointed out definitely in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of direction of the arrow. tical transverse section in the plane indicated by3 3 of Fig. 2. view in the plane indicated byline 2 2 of Fig.

the key-holderand the parts adjacent thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the plane indicated by line 2 2 of Fig. 3 and looking in the Fig. 3 is a central ver- Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional 3, but looking in the opposite direction to that in which the arrow in said figure points. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the gravitypawl WV, viewed from the oppositeside to that which is shown in Fig. 2.

The machine shown, like other machines of this class, has hour and minute type-wheels A and B, which are connected with clock mechanism, whereby they are moved synchronously therewith, an impression-hammer C, mechanism for guiding and advancing a recording-tape D, which lies between the impression-hammer and the type-wheels, and mechanism for guiding and advancing an inking-ribbon F, which lies between the tape D and the recording-wheels. The impressionhammer and the mechanism for operating it and the mechanisms for advancing the recording-tape maybe of any suitable constructionas, for example, that which is shown in the drawings. This particular mechanism includes as an important element a rock-shaft c, which carries the impression-hammer O. This rock-shaft has an arm 0, to which one end of a contractile coiled spring R is secured, the other end of said spring'being attached to the frame of the machine. It has another arm 0 which is adapted to be engaged by certain mechanism to be presently described,whereby the rock-shaft is turned a short distance in opposition to its spring and then suddenly released. The recording-tape D passes over suitable guide-bars T, whereby it is held belowand close to theinking-ribbon F in proper relation to the type to be printed and between the inking-ribbon F and the llilPlGSSlOll-lltll'lmer. This recording-tape then passes between two feed-rollers U U, which carry the meshing pinions a it, whereby the rotation of one roller causes a corresponding rotation of the other in the opposite direction. A ratchet a is attached to one of the feed-rollers, and a pawl n which is pivotally connected with the arm 0 of the rock-shaft 0, e11- gages with this ratchet. \Vhen, therefore,

the rock-shaft has been turned by the mechanism to be presently described in opposition to its spring, this pawl is moved, and it in turn turns the ratchet, whereby the feedrollers are turned a short distance in the feeding direction, thereby advancing the recording-tape. When the arm 0 is suddenly released by the mechanism by which it is moved, the shaft 0 is suddenly returned to its normal position by the action of the spring B. This causes the impression hammer to be thrown up into contact with the recordingtape, which is thereby forced against the inking-ribbon, and the inking-ribbon F is forced against the characters in the impression-line, whereby said characters are printed upon the recording-strip.

So much of the mechanism as is above described is old and well-known in this art, both in the precise form shown and in various equivalent forms.

H represents a horizontal tubular keyholder. It is fixed to a depending post J and extends therefrom forward toward the front face-plate K of the machine, through which it may pass, as shown. This key-holder has a longitudinal slot 7L in its front end. The key M, which is adapted to be used with this machine, is simply a metal rod shaped to fit the hole through thekey-holder. Itis longer than the key-holder, and when inserted as far as it should be its end projects beyond the key-holder. On this projecting end and on the lower side thereof is a cameo type on, which when the key has been properly inserted is in alinement with the figures on the type-wheels A and B,which indicate the time. On the key is a fin m, which prevents the key from being inserted into the keyhole in any position except that in which the type at is on its lower side. Vhen the key is in the proper position relative to the key-holder, this lin enters the slot 7L, and when the key has been inserted far enough this fin engages with the end of said slot and is stopped.

N representsahub which extends through the face-plate K and surrounds the key-holder. It is adapted to turn upon its axis, although it does not matter whether it has its bearings upon the key-holder or in the face-plate K. The part of said hub which is in front of the face-plate has one or two wings 77., whereby it may be turned. The part of the hub which is behind the face-plate has an arm n, to which a contractile coiled spring 1) is attached, and this spring exerts its force to move the arm into engagement with a fixed stop-pin 7; and to hold it there until a superior force is applied. This hub has inside the face-plate K another arm M, which engages with the arm 0 on the rock-shaft 0, whereby the turning of the hub upon its axis causes that actuation of the rock-shaft which results in the operation of the impression-hammer and the advancement of the recording-tape. The hub has also an npwardly-projecting arm in the form of a gear-segment M, which meshes with another gear-segment, which is pivoted on the inner side of the face-plate K. This gearsegment carries above its pivot a long pawl arm r, which engages with a ratchet t on the shaft T, to which is attached the reel upon which the inking-ribbon is to be wound.

It willbe understood that the construction of the hub behind the face-plate may be varied at will to adapt itto cooperate with the mechanism of the particular machine in which it is used, and any form of impressionhammer or its equivalent and of the operating mechanism therefor may be adopted, and so, also, may any form of the mechanismsfor advancing the recording-strip and the inkingribbon, provided suitable intermediate mechanism is provided whereby the turning of the hub when a key has been inserted into the machine will result in the actuation of said mechanisms.

It will be seen that the key which is adapted to be used with this machine has no complications and cannot well get out of order, since it is subject to no strain whatever except such as it receives from the hammer; but the key may be made of such diameter that it can suffer no injury from this blow. None of the work incident to the actuation of the machine is performed by this so-called key, which is, in fact, nothing more than an elongated type inserted into a suitable keyhole far enough to bring its character into alinement with the type-wheels. After this is done it is necessary to take hold of the hub by means of its wing or wings a and to turn it in order to operate the printing mechanism and other mechanisms. Under ordinary circumstances to require two operations for producing the recordviz., the insertion of the key and the subsequent turning of the independent hub-would occasion a loss of time. That, however, is not true with the construction shown if properly operated, for the workman may grasp the handle m of the key between the thumb and forefinger and insert it into the keyhole as far as it will go and then without loosing his hold press upon the lower wing of the hub with the second finger. This will sufliciently turn the hub to causeit to perform its functions. These two acts may be as conveniently and as rapidly performed as maybe the acts necessary to be performed in other machines of inserting a key as far as it is necessary and then turning said key. Moreover, the simple character of the key makes its insertion and withdrawal very easy. In fact, it will never stick in moving in either direction, but may be inserted and withdrawn with complete freedom.

In machines of this character it is at least theoretically desirable that the machine shall be so organized that it cannot be operated until a key is inserted and that when once the key is inserted and the operation of the mechanism is begun it cannot be withdrawn until the operation of the machine is com pleted.

Both of. these results are attained in IIO the machine embodying this invention by very simple means. The hub N is provided with longitudinal groove 17. in its inner periphery, which groove when the hub is at rest is in line with the slot 70 in the keyholder. The fin m on the key is made high enough to project into this groove when it is passing into its operative position. hen it reaches that position, it has passed entirely through the hub, wherefore when the operator has once begun to turn the hub the key eannot be withdrawn until the hub returns to its normal position. This return is prevented until the hub has made its complete forward movement by means of a gravity-pawl \V, pivoted to the rear side of the face-plate of the machine and engaging with a ratchet a on the outer periphery of the same arm to which the operating-spring is fastened. A gravity-pawl Q is pivoted to the rear end of the hub, and when the hub is in its normal position this pawl drops down into the slot hin the key-holder, and thereby prevents the turning of the hub. The front end of the Iin m on the key, as the key is beveled, wherefore in being inserted it engages with this pawl and lifts it out of this slot and holds it out, whereby the hub may be turned with the results before stated. The withdrawal of the key permits this pawl to again enter said slot.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a fixed tubular key-holder, with a hub which is rotatably mounted and embraces the key-holder and has near its outer end an arm or arms for turning it and has also means adapted for operating the impression mechanism, substantially as speei machine and having on the front of said faceplate a wing or wings wherewith it maybe turned, and having behind said face-plate an arm wherewith to operate the impressionhammer, and a spring to return said hub to its normal position, substantially as specified.

3. In a machine of the character specified the combination with a fixed tubular keyholder having a slot in its outer end, a rotatable hub which embraces said key-holder and passes through the face-plate of the machine and has in the front of said face-plate a wing or wings wherewith it may be turned, and behind said faceplate means wherewith to operate the impression-haminer and a spring to return said hub to its normal position, with a pawl mounted upon the hub and adapted to engage in said slot, and a key having a beveled fin which enters said slot and lifts the pawl, substantially as specified.

4. In a machine of the character specified the combination with a fixed tubular keyholder having a slot in its outer end, a retatable hub which surrounds said key-holder and passes through the face-plate of the machine and has in the front of said faceplate a wing or wings wherewith it may be turned, and behind said face-plate means wherewith to operate the impression-hammer, and a spring to return said hub to its normal position, a pawl mounted on the hub and adapted to engage in said slot, the hub having an internal longitudinal groove which, when the hub is in its normal position, is in line with the slot in the key-holder with a key longer than the key-holder having a type on one side of its end and having also a beveled iin which onters the slot in the key-hole and passes through the groove in the hub, substantially as specitied.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDXVIN I1. 'IITU'RSTON.

Witnesses:

ALBERT ii. Barns, .iniijmr KNowLToN. 

